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Huntington
College |
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Strategic
Long Range Plan |
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Action Steps 1996-1997, 1997-1998, 1998-1999 & 1999-2000 |
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Initiative 1: Pursue
excellence and innovation in the preparation of students. |
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Objective
1: Increase the responsiveness of the curriculum to the interdependent
needs of the student, faculty, discipline, and the external
environment. |
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·
Accelerate the evaluation and improvement of theological
education.
Ron Webb/Graduate Council
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96-97
New leadership was selected for the Graduate School of Christian
Ministries to lead theological education at Huntington College into the 21st
Century. |
97-98
The Graduate Council charted a new course for theological
education. The formal
proposal was presented to Faculty in the spring of 1998 for approval and
is now in place. |
98-99
Completed a review of administration and delivery of graduate
program with consideration of distance learning options.
Completed leadership changes and administrative restructuring. |
99-00
Graduate School director of recruitment, mentoring and program
development was hired with responsibilities to include development of
on-line courses. Distance
courses are being offered by the graduate school.
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Investigate and pursue specific and strategic academic alliances. Ron
Webb/ACC/Graduate Council
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98-99
Appointed Dr. Choong Woong Jin of Korea to be Director of Korean
Studies at Huntington College. The
Korean contingent visited Huntington College in the summer of 1999 and
finalized agreement for master’s degree in Christian Ministries.
During J-term, Dr. Steve Lee met with the president of Jamaica
Bible College and explored an educational alliance.
Dr. Ronald Webb traveled to Moscow, Russia to consult with the
Russian-American Christian University (RACU).
They discussed possible educational alliances.
A collaborative venture (Mindscape) between Huntington County
schools and the College is being implemented this fall and a Mindscape
Director has been hired. One
Huntington College faculty member taught/consulted at RACU this summer. |
99-00
Dr. Gary Newton, associate dean of the graduate school, is
exploring collaborative efforts with several seminaries. |
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Evaluate the possibility of instituting a foreign language
requirement. Ron
Webb/ACC
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97-98
Foreign language requirement was discussed at length in ACC and
faculty meetings. |
98-99
Continued to process a foreign language requirement in conjunction
with a review of the core curriculum. |
99-00
It is hoped that the core review process will begin during the
1999-2000 academic year. |
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Investigate improved methods for the determination of faculty
load.
Ron Webb/FATC |
96-97
An analysis of the current method for determining faculty load was
completed in a document distributed to faculty in May 1997.
FATC, FCC, SLT, departments and Board committee received initial
drafts in the spring. |
97-99
Some modifications were made to the May 1997 working paper on
faculty load, but substantively, the approach outlined in the paper was
applied. |
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Investigate curricular opportunities associated with the
relocation of the county's primary health care facility adjacent to the
College.
Ron Webb/ACC/Div. III |
96-97
Joint meetings were held with county health care providers in the
fall. Dr. Paul Smith was
named to be liaison for ongoing discussions on cooperative efforts.
Dr. Bill Bordeaux and Dr. Bruce Evans were in contact with hospital
administrators about other cooperative programs.
Nursing and medical technology were explored as possible curricular
offerings and were found not to be feasible. |
97-98
Dr. Bruce Evans was in contact with Goshen College regarding the
reconfiguration of the pre-nursing program. |
98-99
Discussions were held in September and November with a contingent
of College and hospital personnel. New
collaborative efforts included hospital staff on the science building
committee, the use of hospital personnel as classroom resources, joint
research, future hospital internships for students, and the possibility of
a jointly sponsored wellness program.
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Assess faculty curricular development activities.
Ron Webb/FCC
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97-98
Considerable activity took place related to the Lilly Strengthening
Institutions Grant in technology integration. |
98-99
Summer 1999 technology grants were available for faculty curricular
development. Nine faculty received summer technology grants and worked
on curricular development. |
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Investigate opportunities for the establishment of academic
centers for the concentrated study of meaningful topics in Christian
higher education. Ron
Webb/ACC
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97-98
The appointment of Dr. John Sanders will, with Dr. William Hasker,
establish the philosophy/religion area as an outstanding area of
excellence. |
98-99
The Biology Department explored a proposal for an environmental
program. The Education Department and the dean explored a better
option than our current relationship with St. Francis for our special
education program. |
99-00
Ongoing |
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Increase the amount of practical and service learning experiences
for students.
Ron Webb/ACC
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96-97
More students than ever were involved in non-credit, off-campus or
overseas service learning and volunteerism through the Mertz Center.
In addition, several missions and service credit classes were
organized for January Term. More
than two-dozen students took advantage of faculty-approved individualized
international programs of study that allow for service learning. |
97-98
Expanded opportunities were developed during 1997-98, including a
new business requirement for internship or simulation course. |
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(New in
1998)
Establish a Dean’s Student Advisory Council to discuss
curricular issues and to help the dean understand the “student
culture” on the Huntington campus. Ron Webb |
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98-99
Students were identified to serve on the Dean’s Student Advisory
Council and began regular meetings. The
council was established with four meetings held during fall semester.
Saturday library hours were expanded in response to a Student
Advisory Council request. Met
throughout year; concluded by assessing year and planning for next year. |
99-00
Ongoing |
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Objective
2: Increase the
emphasis on faculty development.
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Establish a strong faculty development program.
Ron Webb/FCC
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96-97
FCC took the initiative of suggesting faculty development sessions
on topics of interest to the faculty. |
97-98
Further funding was budgeted for additional support for
professional development of faculty for the coming year.
A summary paper was drafted that outlines elements of professional
development to be completed during 1997-98. |
98-99
New K-12 Lilly Grant provided numerous opportunities for faculty
development. Continued
efforts to assess current faculty development opportunities and to develop
a comprehensive faculty development plan.
Assistant dean attended conference (Christian colleges in Indiana,
CCCU officials, and resource person from Notre Dame) to develop
comprehensive proposal for faculty development for Indiana Christian
colleges to submit to Lilly Endowment. |
99-00
Assistant dean will outline and summarize current scope of faculty
development programs and activities at Huntington College for the purpose
of assessing where there is need for improvement. New position of assistant dean for faculty
development will be in place by the spring of 2000. |
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Improve and provide institutional support to ongoing assessment
of the academic process beginning with the classroom.
Ron Webb/CPA
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96-97
A review of departmental plans, budgets and costs for assessment
revealed that adequate institutional funding support for assessment is
already provided through the Planning and Assessment cost center overseen
by the coordinator for planning and assessment. |
97-00
Half-time assistant dean position was created with special emphasis
on academic assessment and advising.
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Objective
3: Increase the
valuation of the academic process across the campus.
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Identify and implement unique activities, such as an honors
program or an academic day, which reward student academic achievement
beyond activities currently in place.
Ron Webb/Norris Friesen |
96-99
Two faculty were asked to develop possible directions that might be
taken in support of this suggestion.
Several departments are already providing for recitals,
exhibitions, one-act dramas, speech competitions, and research seminar
presentations that accomplish some of the goals suggested. |
99-00
The honors convocation will be enhanced. The ceremonial format will
be preserved with the processional, regalia, and printed program.
The program will showcase, in celebratory style, a much wider
variety of both faculty and student honors than is currently done. The speaker may be the Huntington College Teacher of the
Year. Faculty promotions will
continue to be announced, but will include the rationale for the
promotion, thereby showcasing each promoted faculty member more
extensively. Several student
academic honors will also be awarded during the ceremony.
A festive “Celebration Lunch” will follow in the dining hall.
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Develop and pilot a student/faculty summer scholarship program. Ron Webb/ACC |
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98-99
Sent team of 8 to CIC conference on “Creating a Culture of
Learning”—purpose to begin discussion related improving/enhancing the
“academic climate” on campus.
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99-00
One day of fall faculty workshop was devoted to discussion of
creating a campus-wide culture of learning. |
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Increase library and computer facilities accessibility. Ron Webb |
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97-98
NC computers installed in the HUB, the library, dorm study rooms
and the Loew Center hallway.
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Objective
4: Increase
interfaculty communication.
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Create a moderated faculty discussion list that routinely
addresses issues of common interest to the teaching faculty.
Ron Webb/FCC |
96-00 The hc_faculty list was established for this
purpose. This faculty
discussion list allows faculty to address issues of common interest. |
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Initiative 2: Encourage
and nurture spiritual maturity and service to others. |
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Objective
1: Improve the awareness
and understanding of the Christian college as community.
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Continue to emphasize in the hiring process an indication of the
candidate's ability and willingness to nurture students spiritually.
Bill Fisher
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96-00
The dean included a question on all faculty application forms that
would give a preliminary sense of how a faculty candidate would deal with
the question of nurturing students spiritually. |
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Include in the new faculty and staff orientation program an
emphasis on the traditions, heritage and commitment to students of the
College. Ron
Webb/Tom Ayers |
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97-98
Senior administrators and senior staff include references to the
spiritual vitality and student-centered atmosphere of the College in new
faculty/staff orientation sessions. |
98-99
New faculty orientation continued throughout the first semester and
included a session on the Christian heritage of Huntington College. |
99-00
New faculty orientation expanded to 12 sessions in the fall of 1999
including multiple sessions on the integration of faith and learning plus
sessions on the history of Huntington College and the Church of the United
Brethren in Christ. |
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Allocate a
portion of the Fall Faculty Workshop to faculty and staff spiritual
development.
Ron
Webb
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97-00
Fall Faculty Workshop planning included devotional times and a
topic/guest lecturer designed to stimulate spiritual thought and
reflection. |
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Objective
2: Increase the deliberate
and tangible efforts by the College to engage the student in thoughtful
spiritual introspection.
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Create a center to consolidate the planning and involvement of
students in cross-cultural experiences.
Bill Fisher
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96-97
Although this action step is not scheduled to activate until the
1997-98 academic year, part of the Lilly grant proposal submitted in May
for retention efforts at Huntington College may allow us to proceed faster
in this direction. The grant
proposal contains ideas for involving potential non-persisting students in
cross-cultural experiences. |
97-98
Lilly Retention Grant funding is being effectively used to support
academic and missions-oriented student trips in an effort to retain
at-risk students. It
was determined that adequate systems are in place to facilitate a broad
range of travel opportunities for students and that the creation of a
center to consolidate the planning and involvement of students in
cross-cultural learning is not warranted. |
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Investigate the possibility of modifying the current academic
calendar to provide more flexibility and opportunities for cross cultural
experiences.
Ron Webb/ACC |
96-97
ACC developed a survey instrument for faculty to declare their
interest in alternative calendars or their support for the January Term.
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97-98
ACC concluded that there is overwhelming faculty support for the
January Term and current calendar. |
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Investigate the nature of load allocation as a function of both
the academic and spiritual development of the student.
Ron Webb/FCC
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96-97
As part of the analysis of faculty load (described above) the dean
outlined the kinds of activities that faculty are involved in for which
there is no attempt to substitute for classroom teaching load.
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97-98
FCC reviewed the analysis and considered possible changes.
After consideration, FCC concurred that current load allocation is
appropriate for academic and spiritual development of the student. |
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Create an all day campus symposium focused on the issue of
integrating faith, learning, and living in Christian higher education.
Bill Fisher/CMC
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96-97
CMC met to draft a purpose/rationale statement, draft an event
schedule, and identify possible funding sources for such a symposium. |
97-98
After drafting a purpose/rationale statement for this event, the
Campus Ministries Committee delayed action until the new academic dean was
in place. The vision, support
and leadership of the new dean are critical for the success of this event.
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98-99
The dean of Christian faith and life continued to
investigate and pursue leadership, structure and possible partnership for
such a symposium. |
99-00
After discussions with Dr. Webb, it was determined that this action
step could be easily folded into an “academic day,” or simply absorbed
into a more deliberate campus culture seeking to integrate faith, learning
and living in all aspects of Huntington College environment. |
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Initiative 3: Use
technology effectively in educational processes. |
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Objective
1: Complete the
installation of the campus infrastructure related to the use of existing
and anticipated technology.
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Proceed with the installation of a conduit and fiber backbone to
all existing buildings with appropriate consideration given to enabling
access to proposed new buildings as outlined in the master facilities
plan.
Ron Webb/Tom Ayers
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96-97
In the summer of 1997, contractors installed conduit and fiber
optic cable to the entire campus, using a design that allows for expansion
and future facility additions. The
original design was proposed as a two-stage design.
By using two fiscal year allocations and financing a portion of the
project in a third year, the College was able to award the entire $300,000
project in 1997. |
97-98
Installation was completed in December 1997 with connection to all
buildings on campus except for Forester Village. |
98-99
Ongoing upgrades for equipment at ends of fiber-optic cable are
needed to convert signals to optical transmission. |
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Evaluate system security.
Ron Webb/Kerry Arnold
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96-97
The computer system security was upgraded substantially although
it is a never-ending review and upgrade.
Site licenses were upgraded to include up-to-date virus detection
methods. Several stages of
security protection were put in place. |
97-99
Firewall solutions to optimize security continue to be evaluated. |
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Objective
2: Develop and implement a
comprehensive plan for the use and management of technology.
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Identify and review existing technology usage plans at similar
institutions.
Ron Webb/Kerry Arnold
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96-99 The Technology Advisory Council was
restructured in January 1997. The
Council was very active reviewing policies, making site-visits and
evaluating relevant applications that may be most useful for the College.
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Assess current technology usage and availability.
Ron Webb/Kerry Arnold
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96-97
The Technology Advisory Council surveyed the faculty and
evaluated what faculty perceive as needs for more effective use of
technology for the classroom. |
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Establish a team to develop a comprehensive plan for technology
usage and management.
Ron Webb/Kerry Arnold
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96-00
The Technology Advisory Council was established to evaluate the use
of technology by faculty and develop policies appropriate to the campus. |
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Temporarily employ an external consultant to assist in the
development of the comprehensive plan for technology usage and management.
Ron Webb/Kerry Arnold |
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97-98
The Technology Advisory Council retained a consultant in the spring
of 1998, but could not establish a time for a campus visit.
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98-99
A technology consultant visited campus during the fall of 1998 and
summer of 1999. He met with
TAC, SLT, and selected faculty and staff. The consultant completed phase
1, an assessment of campus-wide facilities and use of technology. |
99-00
We are awaiting the consultant’s recommendations for the
development of a strategic technology plan. |
Objective
3: Focus on the
development of faculty and staff to enhance the use of existing and new
technologies.
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Provide on-campus workshops for faculty and staff focusing on the
use of available technology.
Ron Webb/FCC
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97-98 The faculty presentations in the fall of
1997 demonstrated use of new technology carts.
Small group training on an as-needed basis has proven to be more
effective than group training. CARS
workshop was held in June 1998. Web
page workshop was held in May for all staff. |
98-99
The appointment of Robert Leach as technology support
specialist provided staff support for training programs. |
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Plan a pilot program demonstrating the use of technology in the
academic process. Ron
Webb/ACC
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97-98
The Lilly Endowment awarded a Strengthening Institutions grant to
establish the English Department as the pilot program on the use of
technology in the academic process. |
98-99
English Department worked during the summer of 1998 and presented
results of their efforts to faculty during the fall of1998. |
99-00 The
English Department has continued to "pilot" the technology
program here in various ways: |